Food preparing machine



March 1936- H. k. BRAND ET AL 2,033,17

FOOD PREPARING MACHINE Filed Nov. 28, 1932 V 17 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS HAPPY ,e BBQ/VF. BY WFZZJ A? fZWJZZ ATTORNEY March y 1936- I H. R. BRAND i-rr AL, 2,033,17

FOOD PREPARING MACHINE Filed Nov. I 28, 1932 17 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY March 10, 1936.

17 sheets-sheet s INVENII'ORS HAPPY A? fiifl/VP HR. BRAND El AL FOOD PREPARING MACHINE Filed Nov. 28, 1932 BY 079F155 A 59021 ATTORNEY Filed Nov. 2 1952 17 SheecsSheet 4 H. R. BRAND ET AL FOOD PREPARING MACHINE March 10, 1936.

Filed Nov. 28, 1932 17 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY March 10, 1936.

FOOD PREPARING MACHINE Filed Nov. as, 1932 17 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTORS baker e B/Pfl/VD BY want-s 6? 590642 M ATTORNEY H. R. BRAND ETAL 2,033,178

March 10, 1936. H. R. BRAND El AL FOOD PREPARING MACHINE Filed Nov. 28, 1952 17 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTORS ATTORNEY March 10, 1936. R B N r 2,033,178

FOOD PREPARING MACHINE Filed NOV. .28, 1932 17 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTORS #6394 I? BBQ/VD hwy y BY mamas ,9. mwzz ATTORNEY March 10, '1936. H. R. BRAND ET AL FOOD FREPARING MACHINE l7 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed NOV. 28, 1932 INVENTORS HAPPY A? ammo av (max; /2 090551.

Y E N m n A March 10, 1936. H. R. BRAND El AL 2,033,178

FOOD PREPARING MACHINE Filed Nov. 28, 1932 17 Sheets-Sheet 12 ATTORNEY arch 10, 1936. R BRAND r 2,033,178

FOOD PREPARING MACHINE Filed Nov. 28, 1 952 17 Sheets-Sheet 15 INVENTORS 1919RPM A 569M) (Maw 19 5905a March 10, 1936. H. R. BRAND ET AL FOOD PREPARING MACHINE Filed Nov/28, 1952 17 Sheets-Sheet 14 INVENTORS weer 1e EPA/V0 Y 09%![8/6? fzwa ATTORNEY March 10, 1936. H. R. BRAND ET AL FOOD PREPARING MACHINE Filed Nov. 28, 1952 17SheetsSheet 15 Y E N R m A March 10, 1936.

H. R. BRAND r-:r AL

FOOD PREPARING MACHINE Filed Nov. 28, 1932 17 Sheets-Sheet l6 17 Sheets-Sheet 17 M :9 mp R? \&m. w x e *1 H. R. BRAND ET AL FOOD PREPARING MACHINE Filed Nov. 28, 1932 March 10, 1936.

' mum/M s09 J ATTORNEY normally inactive but each one operating auto- Patented Mar. 1 0, 1936- PATENT OFFICE FOOD PREPARING MACHINE Harry Russell Brand, New York, N. Y., and Charles A. Fausel, Glenridge, N. J.

Application November 28, 1932, Serial No. 644,736.

56 Claims; (01. 107-4) after the lapse of a predetermined interval of time.

The present invention is particularly (but not exclusively) applicable to baking griddle cakes and'in a specific embodiment of the invention a rotary griddle is provided with means at one point for depositing batter on the griddle and a pair of peels at two other points respectively, one to turn the half-baked cake and the other to remove the fully baked cake, said peels being matically when a. cake reaches it.

Another object of the invention is to provide means automatically set at each deposit -of batter on the griddle, to accompany the batter and ini-' tiate the operation of the peels as said means reaches the turning and removing points respectlvely.

Another: object is to provide mechanism controlled by the means set at each depositof a food portion to be cooked, for bringing a dish into position to receive the food portion when it has been cooked, withdrawing the dish whena predetermined number of food portions have been deposited thereon and replacing it withanother dish.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cooking machine with a storage chamber under the cooking surface of the machine, together with means for introducing therein dishes bearing food cooked on the machine, and means for conveying said dishes to a delivery point at one end of the chamber.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for indicating the number of dishes in the storage chamber and the progress of dishes therein toward the delivery point.

Another object of the invention is toprovide automatic means for cleaning the cooking surface of a cooking machine.

As applied to a griddle cake baking machine our invention has for ai -object to provide means for removing any crumbs or spatterings of batter that might remain on the griddle as each baked cake is removed therefrom.

A further specific object of our invention is to provide a griddle cake bakingmachine with 5 means for wiping the griddle, such means being operated automatically immediately after a cake has been removed from the griddle so as to clean the griddle for the next deposit of batter.

Another object of the invention is to provide 10 means for water-cooling the batter reservoir of a griddle cake baking machine so as to insure uniformity of product despite variations of surrounding temperature.

Another object of the invention is to provide 15 for arresting the batter pouring mechanism of a cake baking machine under various conditions, such as exhaustion of batter supply or dish supply, or reduction of griddle temperature below a predetermined minimum, or when the number of 20 cakes poured and still in the machine, reaches the limit of capacity of the storage chamber in the machine.

Further objects of the inventionwill appear in the following description of a preferred em- 25 bodiment and thereafter the novelty and scope of the invention will be pointed out in theclaims.

- In the accompanying drawings;

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a cake baking machine embodying our invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine with a portion of the casing removed;

Fig. 3 is a view in section taken on the line 33 of Fig.2;

, Fig. 3A is a fragmental view in section of cer- 35 tain burner control mechanism;

Fig. 3B is a. detail view in section of a feeler mechanism for a dish magazine of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a view in section, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and showing the under side of the 40 machine;

Fig. dis a view in section of certain batter pouring and controlling mechanism, the section being taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5A is a detail plan view of a griddle scraping mechanism; a

Fig. 5B is a section taken on the line 53-53 ofFig.5A;

Fig. 6 is a planview of the batter pouring and controlling mechanism with the batter magazine and pouring valve removed;

Fig. 7 is an end elevation-of the same looking from the right handside of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a fragmental side elevation looking 55 Fig. 9 is a view in section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a view in section of the batter reservoir with an agitator removed therefrom, the section being taken on the line ill-l of Fig.

Fig. 11 is a view in section taken substantially on the line Il-li of Fig.

Figs. 12, 13, 14 and 15 are detail views in section taken on lines l2-l2,-l3-I3, l4-l4, and i5-l5 respectively, of Fig. 11;

Fig. 16 is a detail view of mechanism for locking the batter reservoir to the pouring bracket, being a section taken on the line l6-l 6 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 17 is a view in cross-section taken on line I'l-i'l of Fig. 16;

- Fig. 18 is a .view in section taken on line l8-l8 of Fig. '7, showing a bottom plan view of a clutch for the pouring mechanism;

Fig. 18A is a detail view of certain mechanism for initiating operation of a cake turning peel;

Fig. l8B is a detail view of means for initiating operation of a cake removing peel and certain dish handling mechanism;

Fig. 19 is a view substantially in axial section,

of a hydrostatic batter gage;

Fig. 20 is a view in transverse section taken substantially on line 20-20 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a view in section of a griddle wiper showing a portion of the bracket to which said device is attached, the section being taken substantially on line 2l-2l of Fig. 24;

Fig. 22 is a somewhat diagrammatic end elevation of the griddle wiper viewed from the left hand side of Fig. 21 with the supporting frame of the device omitted;

Fig. 23 is a view in section taken substantially on the irregular line 23-23 of Fig. 24;

Fig. 24 is a front elevation of the griddle wiper viewed in the direction of the arrows 24-24 of Fig. 23 and with a wall of the casing of the wiper removed;

Fig. 25 is a plan view of certain control mechanism for operating the griddle wiper;

Fig. 26 is aside elevation of the same viewed from the line 26-26 of Fig. 25;

Fig. 2'7 is a plan view of a storage chamber and conveyor under the griddle;

Fig. 28 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 27;

Fig. 29 is a side elevation of the same;

- Fig-30 is a fragmental plan view of certain token controlled mechanism for delivering a dish from the storage chamber to a delivery shelf;

Fig. 31 is a view in section taken on line 3l-3l of Fig. 30;

Fig. 32 is a plan view of the token control mechanism with a lid of the casing for said mechanism removed;

Fig. 33 is a view in section taken substantially on line 33-33 of Fig. 32;.

Fig. 34 is a detail view taken'on line 34-34 of Fig. 32; and

Fig. is a diagram of electrical connections.

The cake-baking machine shown in the accompanying drawings comprises, in general, a frame on which is mounted an annular griddle 5i with means for rotating the griddle with a step-by-step motion. At one side of the machine there is a batter reservoir 52 from which portions of batter are withdrawn and poured upon the griddle by means so timed that the deposits take place during intervals betwe n t ps in the progress of the griddle.

Under the griddle are heating units, shown in Fig. 3 as gas burners 53, which are successively point, by which time the cake will have been properly baked on both sides. At the removing point the cake is picked up by a peel 55, carried clear of the griddle and deposited upon a dish or other suitable receptacle.

Dishes are conveniently stacked in a magazine 56 (Fig. 1) adjacent the removing point and are automatically drawn off, one at a time, from the bottom of the stack as needed, and lowered to cake-receiving position. After a predetermined number of cakes has been deposited upon a dish the latter is lowered and transferred to an annular conveyor 51 (Fig. 3) located in an annular storage chamber 58 under the griddle. In the particular machine illustrated there is space on the griddle for 2| cakes between the pouring point and the removing point, and the machine is so arranged as to furnish three cakes for each order. Consequently, seven dishes will take care of the full capacity of the griddle. However, there is space in the storage chamber for fourteen orders. The dishes are moved bythe conveyor 51 toward a delivery point, where token-controlled means, indicated generally at 59 (Fig. l) are provided for moving the order out upon a delivery shelf 60.

The pouring of the batter may be controlled from a remote station such for example as a cashiers cage, and in such case when an order is placed and paid for, the cashier transmits an ordering impulse to the machine to initiate the preparation of the order and at the same time issues a token to the customer to enable him to obtain the order as soon as it has been prepared.

Above the dish magazine is an indicator dial 6| which indicates the positions of the finished orders in the storage chamber, so that one may see whether there is an order in position to be delivered and also how many finished orders there are in the storage chamber. The order impulses sent from the cashiers cage are transmitted to an accumulator, indicated generally at 62 in Figs. 5, 8, and 9, which will store up the can preparethem. This accumulator in turn.

controls the operation of a pouring valve 53 by which batter is dispensed or poured from the reservoir 52 upon the griddle. Normally, the valve will operate at each step of the griddle as long as there are any orders in the accumulator waiting to be filled, but as soon as it has poured all the portions called for by the accumulator it will be stopped automatically.

Means are also provided to prevent orders started or finished, but still in the machine, from exceeding the capacity of the storage chamber. Thus, as soon as there are fourteen orders in the machine, counting those on the griddle as well as those in the storage chamber or on the way there from the griddle, the operation of the pouring valve will be automatically suspended, regardless of the accumulation of orders in the accumulator. As soon thereafter as any orders are ao'saive withdrawn from the storage chamber the pour-- ing of batter will be automatically resumed.

Between the removing peel 55 and the pouring Y point there is a scraping mechanism 64 for removing crumbs and spatterings of batter from the griddle and also a mechanism 65 for wiping the griddle clean. 1

With this general picture of the machine in mind, we may now proceedwith a more detailed description of the same.- Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be observed that the main frame of the machine comprises a base plate I supported on legs "II provided with casters I3 so that the machine may be readily moved if so desired. Mountedon brackets rising from the base plate is an annular casing I5 filled with heat insulation material and formed in its upper V lighting filament I9 connected in series in an against movement. in intervals between steps.

electric circuit shown in Fig. 35. A switch 80 in this circuit may be closed to energize the filaments and render them incandescent, whereby the burners may be simultaneously lighted when the machine is being prepared for a run of operations.

Griddle drive Thegriddle is given an intermittent motion by suitable driving gear. The mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings .consists of a species of Geneva drive. Mounted on the under side of the griddle are rollers 8| (Figs. 2 and 3) which are uniformly distributed about the griddle and .located a cake spacing apart. A drive wheel. 82 (Fig. 2) projects, through the casing I5 and is formed with notches 83 adapted to engage the rollers 8| and thereby rotate the griddle. The size of the wheel 82 is so related to the spacing of the rollers that the griddle will be locked The drivewheel is mounted on a vertical shaft I 86 (Figs. 2 and 4) which passes through-and has hearing in the base plate I0 and carries at its lower end a Geneva wheel 85. The latter is formed with transverse slots 86 adapted to be engaged by pins or rollers 31 on the face of a spiral gear B'Iah The gear 81a is driven by a spiral pinion 81b fixedv upon a drive shaft 88, and the latter is driven'through a train of reduction gearing 88a by an electric motor 89 mounted on the under side of the base plate III. This griddle drive is fully described in a copending application Serial No. 626,091, filed July 29, 1932.

Burner control byhatter deposits to rotate thereon. This valve wheel is driven by a pinion 9 lfixed on a shaft 95 (Fig. 5) suitably connected to a series of power. The wheel rotates at the average speed'of rotation of the griddle 5| but its rotation is continuous instead .of being intermittent. Verticallyslidable in the wheel 93 are pins 96 (see also Figs. 3A and 25) which act on arms 91 to throttle or partlyclose the valves 92 and on arms 98 to open said valves. The arms 91 he above the wheel 93 and are adapted to be engaged by the pins 96 when the latter are raised, while the arms 98 lie below the wheel 93 and are adapted to be engaged by the pins 96 when the latter are depressed. However, the arms 91 and 98 are so interconnected.

that when one is swung outward by engagement with apin 96 the other will be swung inward and vice versa.

Normally the arms are in the position shown in Fig. 25 and the valves 92 are .throttled. The pins 96 being normally in raised position, clear the ends of arms 91' and passover the arms 98. Means are provided to depress-a pin 96 whenever a portion of batter ispoured on the griddle, as

, will be described more fully hereinafter. -The depressed pin will; then strike the arms 98 one after another as it pursues its orbit, successively opening the valves 92 to supply additional heat to the burners. But as each arm 98 swings outward its companion arm 91 will be swung inward. The next .pin 96 that is in normal position will then strike the arms 91 and'restor e the'valves to normal throttl'ed position. Thus, a wave of heat accompanies each cake as it proceeds from the pouring point to the removing point. I At the latter point, a. cam, 99 (Fig. 5) returns each depressed pinto raised position.

The mechanism for controlling the burners is fully described in a ccpending application Serial No. 626,090, filed July 29, 1932-.

Batter reservoir and mounting Referring now more particularly'toFigs. 5, 6, and 7, a bracket IOI is provided atone side of the machine, which bracket at its upper end carries a pair of supports I02 and I03 projecting horizontally over the griddle. These supports are adapted to carry the batter reservoir 52. The 'base of the batter reservoir, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, has fixed thereto a casting I 04- formed with a pair of hubs I 05 and I06 which are adapted to fit on the supports I02 and-I03respectively. The casting is also formed with a tubular part I0'I between the hubs (see Fig. 5) which serves as a casing for the batter pouring valve 63.

The'batter reservoir is adapted to be looked upon the machine by means of a latch, best shown in Figs. 16 and 17. The latch mechanism is mounted in the support I02 which is tubular and in the outerend of which is fitted a lock I08. A latch I09 on the barrel of the lock projects, when in locking position, through a slot H0 in the tubular support I02 and rests in a recess near the outer end of the hub I05. The lock barrel is eecentrically disposed with respect to the tubular support so that when it is turned by means of a key II I the latch will be swung within the tubular support clear. of the hub, permittingremoval of the reservoir.

Mounted in the support I02 and in substantial-v alignment with the lock barrel, is a shaft II2 which, at its outer end, is formed with a slot adapted to receive the latch I09. Thus, when the lock is turned the shaft I I2 will also be turned.

a set screw II3 engaging a, groove I16 in the shaft.

The end of the shaft away from the lock projects from the tubular support I02 and has fitted thereon a collar I I5 which is formed with an annular cam face H6. The purpose of this cam, as will be explained,more fully hereinafter, is to operate certain stop mechanism which will prevent The latter is prevented fromaxial movement by 

